School of Music

Organ

Organ

Learn everything about your application process:

BM in Church Music

BM in Church Music

Our goal at Baylor is to prepare you for a career in Christian music. The curriculum at Baylor is designed to prepare students for the varied challenges that face today's Christian musicians, and we are committed to helping you attain the knowledge and skills that you need to serve joyfully throughout your life. Our program is also excellent preparation for further studies in church music at the seminary/graduate school level.

The Church Music program at Baylor allows students to pursue one of three different tracks (keyboard, instrumental, or voice) depending on their primary area of concentration. Each degree plan offers the same core church music classes.

Resources

Additional Opportunities

  • The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is designed in the liberal arts tradition and is a good fit for students who want a music degree and who want to take additional courses outside of their major course of study. Choose BA in Music above for more details.
  • Declare a Double Major. Find out more on our Double Major in Music page.
  • The Secondary Major in Instrumental, Keyboard, or Vocal Performance allows advanced performers (piano, organ, voice, winds, brass, strings, or percussion) to continue their interest in music performance while pursuing another academic career path. Choose Secondary Major above for more details.
  • Certificate of Orchestral Conducting
  • Certificate in Jazz Studies

How to Apply

Step 1: Start your Baylor University application

Studying music at Baylor is a dual admission process, meaning you must apply and be admitted to both Baylor University and the School of Music. You may apply through GoBaylor, CommonApp, or ApplyTexas. You must begin your Baylor application in order to receive your “Bear ID” (firstname_lastname#) to link your BU application to your School of Music application.

  • If you apply through GoBaylor, you will receive your BearID immediately
  • If you apply through CommonApp or ApplyTexas, Baylor will send you an email with your BearID and instructions on creating a GoBaylor account to track your BU admissions status

Start your Baylor University Application

Steps to Success:

  • Choose the Baylor Early Action application track! Apply by November 1st!
  • Complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile as early as possible. See below for more information.

Step 2: Submit your School of Music application

Deadlines:

  • All trumpet and trombone applicants: Submit your School of Music application by December 15, which includes your prescreening videos.

  • All other applicants: Submit your School of Music application at least 2 weeks before your preferred audition date. Applicants who submit a School of Music application within 2 weeks of the preferred audition date are not guaranteed a timeslot for that date.

  • The application portal closes on February 1st.

Start your School of Music Application

How can I apply for a fee waiver for my application?

Church Music Additional Requirements (all concentrations)
Request an interview with Randall Bradley.

Step 3: Audition

All prospective first-year students and transfer music majors are required to audition on their principal instrument for acceptance into the School of Music. The audition is the most important factor in determining whether a student will be accepted as a music major. In-person auditions are strongly encouraged. Applicants seeking to audition via recorded video or live-virtual via Zoom must contact the applied professor directly. Applicants can select their preferred audition date on the School of Music application.

Audition Materials and Dates

Decisions Timeline

First-year and transfer School of Music admissions decisions (March) Admissions decisions are sent via email and updated in GoBaylor accounts
School of Music Merit Scholarship offers (March) Scholarship offers are send via email provided on School of Music application
First-year Decision Deadline (May 1) Commit to Baylor by depositing at *website*

Scholarship & Financial Aid Information

Scholarships

We're glad you are considering Baylor. All undergraduate students who complete the following are considered for Music Merit Scholarships and Baylor University Scholarships:

  1. Apply to the School of Music
  2. Apply to Baylor University
  3. Audition for the School of Music with the intent to major in music
    • Outstanding applicants pursuing a music degree that will enroll as full-time students may be recommended for music scholarships based on their performance ability and the programmatic needs of the School of Music.
  4. We HIGHLY recommend completing both the FAFSA and CSS Profile .

Financial Aid

To be considered for all possible scholarship and financial aid opportunities, undergraduates must complete both the FAFSA and CSS Profile. You may complete them before you get accepted or audition (the earlier you complete these applications, the better). We recommend completing before February 1 for those wanting to begin school in the Fall.

Baylor University maintains a student financial aid program including scholarships, grants, on-campus employment, and loans totaling approximately $60 million dollars annually. 92% of Baylor students receive financial aid.

Organ Audition Information

Directly contact Jens Korndörfer if you have any questions.

There are no events for the date(s) selected.

Organ Program

The Baylor Organ Program is proud of a century-long tradition of educating the finest organists. Dedicated and experienced teachers, who are committed to student-centered learning, provide students with intensive training in organ; service playing/improvisation; conducting; harpsichord and all other areas relevant for a career as church musician, concert organist and educator. Alumni of our undergraduate and graduate degree programs in organ performance, church music, and organ as a secondary major excel in their positions at universities, churches, and in orchestras; or have been accepted into advanced degree programs at many of our nation’s finest institutions. 

Concert in Memory of Dr. Joyce Jones in Roxy Grove Hall, Feb. 2025
Concert in Memory of Dr. Joyce Jones in Roxy Grove Hall, 2/25

Facilities & Instruments

Baylor University’s gorgeous campus is home to a large and varied collection of outstanding instruments in our five concert halls, which includes instruments with both electro-pneumatic (see below for details). Students have unlimited access to our dedicated practice studios with five two- and three manual practice organs (both mechanical & electro-pneumatic action), a portative organ by Klop (2023) and a French double harpsichord. Several churches in Waco have very fine instruments by Schoenstein, Schantz, and others, which are regularly used for lessons and degree recitals.

Scholarships

Generous scholarships (up to full tuition funding) are available to all undergraduate and graduate students in organ, graduate students are also eligible for GA positions. Organ majors usually also hold a position in one of the many churches in Waco, which provides additional income.

Performance Opportunities

Organ majors regularly perform with Baylor University’s choirs and orchestras, in chamber music and early music ensembles, and as soloists, both on and off campus. Recent off-campus venues include the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, MA (which is home to the sixth largest organ in the world), St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, NY, and St. Monica Catholic Church in Dallas, TX. The 2026 winner’s concert of the Semper Pro Musica Organ Competition is going to take place at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, NY.

organ studio at St. Sulpice in Paris with titular Karol Mossakowski, March 2024
The organ studio at St. Sulpice in Paris with titular Karol Mossakowski, 3/24

Travel Opportunities

The organ studio goes on annual study trips, alternating between destinations in Europe (Paris 2024, Germany 2026) and the the U.S. (Boston 2025). These trips offer students the possibility to experience first-hand the sounds of the instruments that inspired many of the masterworks of the organ repertoire. Encounters with local organists and visits to major monuments, museums and operas/concert halls provide students with an immersive experience in the culture of the respective destinations.

Guest Artists

We offer regular opportunities to learn from other leading professional teachers and performers in the field. Recent distinguished guests have included Peter Sykes, Kimberly Marshall, Richard Elliott, Paul Jacobs, Ken Cowan, Johann Vexo and Jean-Baptiste Robin. In 2025/26, Olivier Latry, Martin Schmeding, and David Enlow will be on campus for concerts and masterclasses.

Pre-College Opportunities

In 2023, Baylor launched the National High School Organ Competition (link below): ten highly talented organists from all over the U.S. are competing annually in the fall for cash prizes of currently $2,250. Our Summer Organ Camp is one of Baylor’s long-standing, cherished traditions. It takes place every June and is open to rising 8th through 12th graders.

Organs

Markham Organ Studio
McCrary Music Building

Orgues Létourneau, Op. 34
Built 1993
Mechanical Action- slider chests
III/39
McLane Organ
Jones Concert Hall

Petty-Madden, Op. 34
Built 1993
Electro-pneumatic action
IV/92
Powell Chapel Organ
Truett Seminary

Orgues Létourneau, Op. 89
Built 2003
Electric slider action
III/56
Roxy Grove Hall Organ
Roxy Grove Hall

Rufatti Organbuilders
Built 1972
Electro-pneumatic action
III/57
Travis Johnson Memorial Organ
Recital Hall II (Waco Hall Complex)

Fratelli Ruffatti
Built 1973
Mechanical Action- Slider chests
II/17
Practice Organs
McCrary Music Building

Organ Faculty

Jens Korndörfer, DMus

Associate Professor of Organ

Jens Korndörfer, DMus

Associate Professor of Organ

McGill University (D.Mus., 2012), Oberlin Conservatory (A.D., 2009), Paris Conservatory CNSM (DFS, 2007), Musikhochschule Bayreuth (Church Music, 2004)

  • Performs regularly at venues such as Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, the Cadet Chapel in West Point, Berlin Cathedral, and the Cultural Centre in Hong Kong
  • Released five commercial recordings; published a collection of hymn preludes (available summer 2025)
  • Gives masterclasses and workshops at universities and conventions on three continents
jens_korndoerfer@baylor.edu
Julia Dokter, PhD, DMus

Part-Time Lecturer of Harpsichord, Secondary Organ, and Academic Studies

Julia Dokter, PhD, DMus

Part-Time Lecturer of Harpsichord, Secondary Organ, and Academic Studies

PhD (Utrecht University) in musicology, DMus and MMus (McGill University) in organ performance; MA (McGill University) in music theory

  • Has performed in prominent venues such as the Basilique Notre-Dame in Montreal and Metropolitan United Church in Toronto; has given lecture-recitals at conferences in Aberdeen (UK) and Montreal
  • Specializes in the performance of early music up to J.S. Bach, but also loves the French masters of the 19th and 20th centuries
  • Published extensively in European and American journals and published a book with Rochester University Press
Julia_Dokter@baylor.edu

National High School Organ Competition

An opportunity for talented young organists to gain valuable performance experience and recognition.

Learn More

Events for Prospective Students

BearShadow
College Fairs
Schmidt Vocal Competition

Undergraduate Admissions FAQs

Graduate Admissions FAQs

School of Music

 
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